'The Voice' tries to drown out 'X Factor'

Sept. 6, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

1 of 1

From left, Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and host Carson Daly will return for another season of "The Voice" next week. The NBC singing competition angered "X Factor" creator Simon Cowell by adding a third episode next week to compete directly against Cowell's show. MARK SELIGER, NBC

From left, Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and host Carson Daly will return for another season of "The Voice" next week. The NBC singing competition angered "X Factor" creator Simon Cowell by adding a third episode next week to compete directly against Cowell's show. MARK SELIGER, NBC

The fall broadcast season hasn't even started – unless you count football – but already the battle among the networks is getting heated.

"The Voice" kicks off its third season Monday, but instead of the two-night premiere originally planned, NBC has added a third episode – perfectly timed to air opposite the season-two premiere of Fox's "The X Factor."

"The reason they've done this is they don't want people to see 'X Factor' because they've heard how good the series is," Simon told the gossip site TMZ. "They don't want their audience to see Britney Spears. They don't want their audience to see Demi Lovato."

You're right, Simon. NBC doesn't want viewers tuning into Fox. And the Watcher's own interest in seeing Britney Spears and Demi Lovato as judges is only slightly higher than my desire to see Paula Abdul host "Frontline."

But we can pardon Simon for being a little touchy after his new series failed last year to dethrone "American Idol" in the ratings as he had promised. Getting a big dose of competition to start season two can't help. And experienced viewers know that the early episodes of "The Voice" are the best, whereas the best episodes of "The X Factor" ... well, there are no best episodes of "The X Factor."

MORE, MORE, MORE

Expanding "The Voice" fits NBC's new policy of providing plenty of whatever is selling. This summer, apparently spurred on by its 11 million hours of Olympics coverage, the network has been throwing in reruns and extra episodes of "America's Got Talent" every chance it gets.

While "AGT" still hasn't found much in the way of talent, it has three points to celebrate this season:

•It's the No. 1 show of the summer.

•Howard Stern turned out to be the best judge the show has had.

•Someone other than a singer might win.

Despite the myriad oddball acts "AGT" has unearthed over the years, five of its six champions have been solo singers. (The lone exception: ventriloquist Terry Fator.) It's easy to understand why: Singers have an easier time after their initial performance. While others must rearrange their acts to come up with new approaches, material or choreography with each performance, singers just pick another song.

The first semifinal round produced three non-singers for next week's finals. This column went to press before the results of the second semifinal were announced, but it probably sent through just one singer, perhaps two.

'SONS' RISES

Why, you ask, is the Watcher so critical of the Emmy awards? Perhaps because the voters do things like nominate the turgid "Game of Thrones" for best drama series and ignore "Sons of Anarchy," which actually is TV's best drama series.

Yes, last season's finale was maddening, but every episode that preceded it was masterful. The series combines themes from "Hamlet" and "The Sopranos" into the tale of a small-town motorcycle gang. Like "Hamlet" and "The Sopranos," "Sons of Anarchy" is gory and offensive at times – OK, a lot of the time – but it also is great drama.

Season five premieres Tuesday on FX.

THE WATCHER'S TOP 10

What the Watcher is watching this week.

1. "Sons of Anarchy" (FX, Tuesday) – Season five starts

2. "Project Runway" (Lifetime, Thursday) – Anya, Mondo return

3. "Masterpiece Mystery" (PBS, Sunday) – New season of "Wallander"

4. "Hoarders" (A&E, Monday) – New season starts

5. "Go On" (NBC, Mon-Tue) – Pilot repeats, then new show

6. "The New Normal" (NBC, Tuesday) – We'll try it

7. "The Voice" (NBC Mon-Tue-Weds) – Spin the chairs

8. "Stand Up to Cancer" (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Friday) – Worthy cause

9. "So You Think You Can Dance" (Fox, Tue-Thu) – The finals

10. "America's Got Talent" (NBC) – Pulling for Earth harpist

Contact the writer: Write me at ocrwatcher@gmail.com. To read more, visit pedrowatcher.ocregister.com. Follow the Watcher on Twitter @WatcherofTV and on Facebook (The Watcher).

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.